how do you use a spinning wheel?

How to Use a spinning wheel

The spinning wheel, or spinning jenny, is an age-old tool used for turning raw material into spun thread. Traditionally, the device consists of large wheels that are connected to a spindle for winding yarn and is powered either by hand or with a foot pedal. While many techniques have advanced over the years, spinning with a traditional spinning wheel is still used in modern times. Whether you are new to spinning or just trying out the traditional tool, here's all you need to know about using a spinning wheel.

Getting Started

Before you get started on the spinning wheel, make sure you have all of your materials gathered. You will need your raw material (such as wool roving), scissors, an armchair or sofa as it provides support and allows space to set up your wheel, your spinning wheel and some additional bobbins that fit onto it so you can wind all of the yarn you will make. You will also need any accessories such as drop spindles and hooks.

Once everything is gathered and set up properly, then you can begin! Start by taking some roving from your raw material and break off pieces small enough for spinning so it fits onto the bobbin of your wheel. Attach the bobbin securely in its groove on the drive shaft of your spinning wheel and secure both ends with clips or pins, then attach any other bobbins you will be using in place along with them. Your bobbins should be all facing outwards while they're clipped into place; this way they can better receive tension from the drive shaft while they're wound with yarn later on.

Spinning & Winding Yarn

Now that everything is properly attached and secured in place it's time to get down to business! Start by laying out some roving onto the flyer—it should be smooth enough so there's no tangling after being spun—and hold it firmly against one of pegs on the whorl at the bottom of your flyer arm with one hand while simultaneously releasing more slack towards those connected bobbins (this is where drop spindles come in helpful). As soon as there's enough slack from roving wrapped around those bobbins secured onto drive shaft pegs take hold of treadle board under footboard with one foot and start treading by pushing it down quickly for more TPI (turns per inch). The further down you press on that treadle board is directly related to how thickly-spun yarn will be produced from roving but be warned; pressing on too light will make threads too loosely-spun while pressing too hard will make them too tightly-spun obviously resulting in potential breakage if not done carefully! Once threads are tightly spun onto those connected bobbins take them off against moving spindle since this creates tension allowing threads become neat coils once removed—threads should wind clockwise manually once back spindle stop revolving if not done autonomously after removal! Finally finish off this process by making knots between severed ends so they would not fray if desired as well cutting off extra pieces if necessary before removing yarn completely from bobbins ready for final knitting/weaving project!